Fletch Brunelle, VP Marketing, Las Vegas CVA : “Reinventing ourselves is part of our identity”

In an exclusive interview with TravelMole at WTM London, Fletch Brunelle, Vice President of Marketing, Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) tells us what is Las Vegas strategy to remain the entertainment capital of the world.

Las Vegas seems to have rebounded strongly post-pandemic. You’re here again at WTM London—how important is this show for you?

Fletch Brunelle – WTM is of vital importance. We meet all of our key travel partners here—tour operators, hotel and resort representatives, and attractions. The UK remains a priority market for us, with about 555,000 British visitors last year. WTM allows us to showcase what’s new in the destination and strengthen those partnerships.

So, you’re present here every year?

Fletch Brunelle – Every year indeed. We also attend ITB Berlin, though the footprint there is smaller. WTM tends to be more valuable for us in terms of meetings and outcomes.

Air connectivity seems to be expanding again for Las Vegas. Can you tell us more?

Fletch Brunelle – Yes, we’re seeing strong momentum. British Airways is resuming flights to Las Vegas, and both BA and Virgin Atlantic offer regular service from London and Manchester. Overall, air capacity from the UK is up about 7% this year. Air France will also begin flying three times a week from Paris starting in April while Aer Lingus is back this winter with flights from Dublin. Both are exciting developments. We stay always in active talks with several airlines. We’re working for example closely with WestJet in Canada. As for Middle Eastern carriers, there’s interest, but it’s not an immediate priority.

How about the future high-speed rail link from California? Is that finally happening?

Fletch Brunelle – Construction on Brightline West has begun. It’s a huge project—about a $20 billion investment. They’ve secured $6 billion in federal loans and are raising additional funding. It’ll connect Las Vegas to Southern California, easing congestion and offering a sustainable alternative to driving.

Recently, many media outlets reported about Las Vegas losing its appeal as a “value destination.” How do you reply to these allegations ?

Fletch Brunelle – Some of that narrative came from social media sentiment, especially in August. But we looked at data following a survey we conducted about Las Vegas perception. 97% of the mentions came positively out. But the 3% negative comments did raise valid concerns.

Our role is to show that Las Vegas can still be great value—it depends on where you stay. Of course, a luxury property like Wynn or Bellagio won’t compare pricewise to a mid-tier hotel, but we’re ensuring visitors understand the range of experiences available.

As a destination marketing body, can you actually have any sort of influence over  the hotel pricing policy ?

Fletch Brunelle – We can’t set prices—it’s a free market. But we can share insights. When we noticed the negative sentiment over the summer, our CEO and CMO met with major hotel groups to discuss what guests were saying. Out of that came our first-ever Destination-Wide Sale in September. We then featured 160 offers across the destination and saw incredible results—one property doubled its usual booking volume, reaching 300,000 bookings during that five-day sale. We’re seeing resorts respond too—some reintroduced $5 blackjack tables or lowered prices on essentials like coffee and bottled water.

Could such promotional events become more regular?

Fletch Brunelle – Yes of course. We already coordinate with UK partners like Virgin, TUI, and BA Holidays for key booking windows—mainly in September and January. We co-finance marketing campaigns with better pricing during those periods. Each market is different, but for the UK, those two peaks work best.

Turning to development—what’s new in Las Vegas?

Fletch Brunelle – Quite a lot, I have to say ! The Mirage closed and is being transformed into the new Hard Rock Hotel, reopening in early 2028 with a brand-new guitar-shaped tower offering around 700 all-suite rooms.

We’re also building a new baseball stadium for the Las Vegas Athletics, who are relocating from Oakland. It’ll be near Allegiant Stadium, home of the NFL’s Raiders. Sports are becoming a major tourism driver for us—Super Bowl, Formula 1, UFC, and now baseball.

And of course, there’s the Sphere. It’s become an icon already—an engineering marvel and a stunning venue for residencies like U2, The Eagles, and soon Kenny Chesney. It’s redefining entertainment in Las Vegas.

How is Las Vegas addressing climate change?

Fletch Brunelle – Sustainability is a core focus. Resorts are investing heavily in renewable energy and water conservation. For instance, Mandalay Bay powers its entire convention center with solar energy. Many properties have large-scale solar installations or source clean power from regional grids. These efforts are well underway, not just in early stages.

Beyond gaming and entertainment, can Las Vegas reinventing itself?

Fletch Brunelle – Sports are the biggest evolution right now. About 6% of our total visitors now come specifically for sporting events—NFL, NHL, Formula 1, and soon MLB. It’s a growing share, and the atmosphere around those events brings a new kind of energy to the city. I think that sports, entertainment, and innovation will continue driving us forward. Reinventing ourselves is actually part of our identity.